May 08, 2012

Amy Martin named new director of Illinois Historic Preservation Agency

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which administers historic sites and reviews qualifications of sites vying to be on the National Register of Historic Places, will soon have a new director.

Amy Martin, who was named to the post Tuesday, previously served as the state coordinator of the Illinois Main Street Program. In that role, a news release from the agency says, she worked closely with IHPA staff to revitalize historic downtowns. The full release follows on the jump:

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) Board of Trustees today voted to name Amy Martin the new agency director. Martin, who has served as the assistant deputy director for Regional Outreach at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) since 2009, assumes her new duties May 16.

“Amy Martin’s Main Street experience has given her a proven track record of promoting and preserving Illinois’ heritage, which is vital in these tough fiscal times,” said IHPA Board Chair Sunny Fischer. “I want to thank Catherine Shannon for guiding the agency for nearly eight months as we searched for a new director.”

Martin, 41, was named director by the IHPA Board of Trustees in a vote today at the board’s regularly scheduled quarterly meeting. She takes over from Acting Director Catherine Shannon, who has been leading the agency since September 2011. Shannon will return to her position as IHPA deputy director.

Previously, Martin was the state coordinator of the Illinois Main Street Program where she worked closely with IHPA staff to revitalize historic downtowns. She was also managing director of marketing and communications at DCEO, during which time she developed and maintained numerous public-private partnerships to promote economic development, which is a key ingredient in many historic preservation initiatives.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Historic Preservation Agency,” said Martin. “It’s important that we continue to encourage tourism and education at our historic sites and museums, because the revenue that people generate when visiting our sites is especially important in these tough economic times.”

The IHPA preserves and promotes the culture and history of the State of Illinois. The agency administers more than 60 historic sites and memorials throughout Illinois, oversees the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, conducts regulatory oversight of federal and state-funded projects, places Illinois historic sites on the National Register of Historic Places, and coordinates the Illinois History Expo program for Illinois middle and senior high school students.

Posted at 06:48:20 PM

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